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Home to some of the world oldest nations The Mediterranean Sea is distinguished by its turquoise water and is one of the most visited holiday destinations in the world millions of tourists all year round, but especially in the warmer months when it is sunny.
The only problem is that certain Mediterranean destinations can be a drain on your wallet, from Ibiza, Spain’s main holiday island, to Mykonos, Greece’s party capital, to Amalfi, Italy’s unspoilt coast, dotted with colorful towns, which all three eye-wateringly expensive.
Happy, not all Med spots have exorbitant pricesand while a majority of the most popular ones do, this region of the Old Sea is not only incredibly cheap to visit, but perhaps the most beautiful:
The Adriatic Sea is the cheapest part of the Mediterranean
In case you didn’t know, the Mediterranean Sea is divided into eleven parts, all of which have different names (Aegean, Ligurian, Balearic), but still belong to the same sea.
One of these, the Adriatic Sea, is bordered by some of Europe’s most budget-friendly countries.
The world may know the Adriatic Sea as Italy’s ‘eastern’ coast, home to the iconic dry stone houses with conical roofs of Puglia, the seaside resort of Rimini and the floating city of Venice, but across the narrow waters lie the Mediterranean Sea. most northerly is the Balkan Peninsula.
The ‘Balkan countries’ cover much of southeastern Europe, five of which extend across parts of the Adriatic coast. They are close neighbors, but they have surprisingly different cultures, making the peninsula something of a melting pot:
- Slovenia
- Croatia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Montenegro
- Albania
Before we discuss prices, let’s first just walk through each of them:
How do the Balkan countries compare?
Slovenia has the second shortest coastline in the Adriatic Sea, at just 45 kilometers.
Due to its proximity to Austria and Hungary, it has more of a Central European character than a Mediterranean character.
Its southern neighbor Croatia, on the other hand, claims a large part of the Adriatic Sea for itself.
As the meme goes, it’s almost as if the Bosnians said they wanted to swim, and Croatia responded with a sharp ‘no’: the Croatian coast covers more than 90% of the Balkan side of the Adriatic Sea and is getting narrower and narrower, almost the border of Bosnia. access to the sea.
Needless to say, Croatia is the main destination in the Balkanshighly sought after for its thousands of years old Dalmatian towns, with Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik to name a few, paradise islands and pebble beaches bordered by crystal clear waters.
Bosnia does indeed have a coast, albeit twelve miles long (they have Croatia to thank for that), making Montenegro, the next country in line, Croatia’s biggest competitor.
Stones, cobbled towns, picturesque beaches, you know how it goes.
Finally, at the southern end of Montenegro’s 300 kilometer coastline, we have Albania, the best kept secret of the Adriaticwhere tourists will find sandy beaches, which are surprisingly rare in this part of the Mediterranean, and most importantly: significantly lower consumer prices.
Adriatic countries are remarkably cheap
Speaking of affordability – we know this is what you came here for – we’re not sure if you realize this yet, but a holiday on the Adriatic will hardly break the bank.
That is, if you stick to the Balkans and avoid Italy altogether:
The Adriatic states in the Balkans are remarkably affordable: in Montenegro, ordering a cevapi – a flatbread with minced meat, served with onions – and a drink in a cheap restaurant will cost you less than ten dollars on average, and the same goes for Bosnia and Herzegovina:
It makes up for the lack of a vast coastline with cheap food – eating in cheap restaurants will only cost you an average of $5 a time – and accommodation, as cheap as $26 per night average according to Budget your trip.
Croatia is probably the most expensive of all, because it is dubbed a ‘mini-Italy’ due to the rising cost of living, but if you’re willing to sacrifice some comfort you can expect to pay as little as $25 for a dorm bed, and there are plenty of delicious takeaway calzoni for $3 in central Split .
Slovenia is also not that cheap: the official currency is the euro, and it is a developed country with a high standard of living.
That being said, an overnight stay at the 3 star hotel Art hotel in Piran, part of the Slovenian Riviera and Split without the crowds, costs an acceptable $82 per adult.
You probably don’t come all the way to the Mediterranean to sleep in hostels and be frugal, which is why you should consider spending most of your time in paradise for budget travelers Albania instead:
Albania is the cheapest country of all
This is by far the cheapest Balkan country, and somewhere you go to escape the crowds in Croatia and Montenegro and live it up in a seaside resort without depleting your own savings.
Don’t believe us? Check these out:
You can book a standard double room with pool view this spring at the Adriatik Hotel, part of the BW Premier Collection in Durres, one of Albania’s liveliest coastal cities, for just $104 per adultor the majestic Santa Quaranta Premium Resort in Sarande for $56 each as a couple.
Sarande is part of the Albanian Riviera, where rare white sand beaches in the Balkans are concentrated.
It’s the perfect home for exploring the country’s southern provinces, which are famous not only for their swimming holes, but also for their Greco-Roman ruins.
If you eat out in Sarande, you will likely see your account balance drop a negligible $20 per dayunless you’re actively looking for good food, in which case you’ll still be charged around $46.
Yes, Albania does soil cheap.
Why are holidays on the Adriatic Sea so cheap?
You may wonder why Adriatic holidays are so cheap while island hopping in superyachts around the Aegean or partying in the Balearic Islands seems reserved for the super-rich, but here’s a simple answer:
Most Balkan countries are years behind in development compared to their European counterparts, and in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, they are not members of the economic powerhouse that is the European Union.
In general, Western countries offer more complex social protections, be it in the form of benefits or robust worker rights.
Not to mention the increased local purchasing power. Taxes are also much higher, because the welfare state and living standards must be maintained.
Simply put, the Balkans are poorer countries – particularly Bosnia and Albania – with lower consumer prices, at least for the occasional American visitor. It is not that the prices for the local population themselves are particularly low.
It’s the weaker currency that’s causing your tourist dollars to stretch much further.
For example, $1 is equal to 0.011 Albanian lek, judging by that of the country minimum wageSet at a disparaging $421, you quickly begin to understand how a Mediterranean gem with immense cultural value and beautiful beaches can be such a bargain.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
